Development of a Quartz-Based Photo-Mobile Polymer Film for Controlled Motion Triggered by Light or Heat

Abstract

We have developed a photo-mobile polymer film, that combines organic and inorganic materials, to allow for controlled motion that can be triggered by light or heat. Our film is made using recycled quartz and consists of two layers: a multi-acrylate polymer layer and a layer containing oxidized 4-amino-phenol and N-Vinyl-1-Pyrrolidinone. The use of quartz in our film also gives it a high temperature resistance of at least 350 °C. When exposed to heat, the film moves in a direction that is independent of the heat source, due to its asymmetrical design. Once the heat source is removed, the film returns to its original position. ATR-FTIR measurements confirm this asymmetrical configuration. This technology may have potential applications in energy harvesting, due to the piezoelectric properties of quartz.

Keywords: contact-less actuator; energy harvesting; green energy; green polymers; photo-mobile polymer; sensors.

Figure 1

The experimental setup used to measure the behavior of the t-PMP-film under, and after, heat radiation. A CCD camera was used to record motion.

Figure 2

Behavior of the t-PMP under heat radiation. Bending (${}^{\circ }$) vs. time (s).

Figure 3

ATR-FTIR measurements operated on the upper and lower faces of the t-PMP film.

Figure 4

XRD of the starting inorganic deltamat materials.

Figure 5

Behavior of the t-PMP under light irradiation: bending angle (${}^{\circ }$) vs. time (s).

Figure 6

The frames show how the film bent over time under different conditions: (a) before being exposed to irradiation, (b) after 1 s of irradiation, (c) after 2 s of irradiation, and (d) after complete relaxation. The irradiation source had a power of 400 mW. The black arrows indicate the direction of movement, while the green arrows represent the direction of the irradiation source.

Figure 7

A copper wire soldered with a 60/40 Sn-Pb paste on the quartz-rich part of the t-PMP-film.